The bullpen, most notably Tyler Clippard, blew the game for the New York Yankees as they drop their seventh straight.

Although Michael Pineda was probably looking forward to a return to Yankee Stadium where he has pitched to the tune of a 6-1 record and a 1.96 ERA, the Angels were quick to jump on the righty as they got out to an early lead.

Before fans could even get to their seats, Cameron Maybin drilled the second pitch of the game for a ringing opposite field double. The next batter Kole Calhoun walked and then Albert Pujols lined a single through the left side of the infield that plated Maybin to give the Halos the first inning one run lead.

Trouble for Pineda continued in the second inning; where on the 34th pitch of the game, Danny Espinosa drilled a double into the right-center field gap to score Eric Young Jr. to make it a 2-0 game. Kole Calhoun then got to Pineda again, this time with a sharp single to center that scored Espinosa to extend their lead out to three.

As for Bridwell, he didn’t allow a Yankee baserunner until Starlin Castro hit a leadoff single to left in the bottom of the fourth. After a Gary Sanchez walked a Didi Gregorius deep fly out to center that advanced Castro to third, Chase Headley smacked a sac fly to center that allowed Castro to score from third to pull the Yankees to within two at 3-1.

#AllRise

A day after rookie sensation Cody Bellinger launched his 20th and 21st home runs last night in a record 51 games, the major league leader in long balls Aaron Judge had to do something to keep pace. And boy did he deliver as the MVP candidate blasted a solo shot to center that closed the Angels lead to just one.

It’s worth noting that Judge was extended an invitation to participate in the 2017 Home Run Derby earlier today. Judge was quoted as to saying that he hasn’t made up his mind yet, adding that how he can help the Yankees win now is far more important to the AL All-Star leading vote getter.

Gary Sanchez stepped up in the bottom of the sixth and tied the game with a deep solo blast to center for his 12th homer of the season.

Clippard Continues to Struggle

After Gary Sanchez and the Yankees did such a good job to battle back and tie the game, Tyler Clippard came on and proceeded to give the lead right back to LA.

First, Cameron Maybin led off the top of the seventh with a line drive home run to left-center that pushed the Angels out to a 4-3 lead.

After a Calhoun double and Pujols fly out advanced Calhoun to third, Yunel Escobar drilled a triple that scored Calhoun easily to extend the lead back out to two.

Clippard was then removed, walking off the field to a deafening chorus of boos. Jonathan Holder came on in relief and immediately served up a single to Luis Valbuena to right field that scored Escobar to make it a 6-3 contest.

In the top of the eighth, Maybin struck again, this time for a soft single that scored Martin Maldonado to widen the gap to four at 7-3.

The final run of the game was scored in the top of ninth on a deep solo blast to dead center by Luis Valbuena. The win is the first victory for the Angels at Yankee Stadium since May 25, 2014.

This Day In Yankees History

In 1950, Joe DiMaggio recorded the 2,000th hit of his career in a two-hit game against the Cleveland Indians. DiMaggio collected the milestone with a RBI single in the seventh inning of a game the Yanks would go on to win 8-2.

In 1921, Babe Ruth took sole possession of second place on the All-Time Home Runs list by launching the 127th long ball of his career. The blast helped lift the Yankees to an extra-innings road victory over the rival Red Sox, 7-6, while passing Sam Thompson and putting him just 11 shy of the number one spot, owned by Roger Connor at the time.

What’s Next

The Yankees will send rookie left-hander Jordan Montgomery(4-4, 3.78 ERA) to the bump, looking to grab a victory and break this losing slide in game two of this three-game mid-week series. To counter, the Halos will trot out right-hander Ricky Nolasco(2-8, 5.01 ERA) to the mound as they look to take game two and the series tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET and can be seen on MLB.TV.

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After losing my eyesight as a result of a brain tumor in 1996, baseball and music ushered me back to reality and led me to who I am today. I turned my love of the game and for my New York Yankees into writing for the best company in sports: Elite Sports NY. i use my Psychology & Music degree from James Madison University to articulate my thoughts in my writing and use my vocal/piano skills to professionally play music in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.